Belt device for securing the external portion of a catheter

ABSTRACT

The present novel technology relates to a medical device and/or medical garment that may be fittingly engaged to a patient or user by a generally elastic belt portion. When the medical garment is worn, it may be used to secure and support Central Venous Catheter lines or Intravenous lines. The lines are threaded through at least one enclosing flap located on the exterior surface of the generally elastic belt portion and secured within at least one compartment defined by the respective flap. Once the lines are secured in the respective compartment, the lines are relieved of tension, and more specifically the lines are relieved of tension at the site where the lines attach to the body.

CROSS REFERENCE

This application claims priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/601,767 filed on Feb. 22, 2013.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The novel technology relates to the field of health and medical devices, and, more specifically, to garments for securing surgically placed catheters in the neck or chest region.

BACKGROUND

A central venous catheter (CVC) is a catheter that is surgically placed into a large vein near a patient's neck or chest area. The CVC exits the body through the chest, where it is secured by stitches in the skin surrounding the exit wound. The exterior portion of the CVC comprises of one or more lumens. Intravenous (IV) lines from bags of fluid may be connected directly to these lumens in order to send medication directly into the bloodstream. In addition, blood samples may be drawn directly from the lumens. CVCs are generally used for patients who require large volumes of fluids and/or frequent blood draws over an extended period of time. The CVC may be surgically inserted in a procedure during which the patient receives general anesthesia. Risks of the procedure include reactions to the anesthesia, punctured lung, excessive bleeding, and for infections, among others. The CVC is typically secured to a patient's body solely by means of the stitches placed at the site of the exit wound. As a result, any pressure exerted on the exterior portion of the CVC or tension exerted on the IV lines connected to the lumens may cause the CVC to begin to slide out of the vein or to break off entirely. Because many patients' lumens are connected to fluid suspend from on an IV pole virtually around the clock, there is ample opportunity for patients to inadvertently cause pressure or tension on their IV lines while carrying out their daily activities. For example, a patient may create pressure on the CVC by accidentally running over the IV lines with the IV pole, snagging the IV lines on furniture, or rolling over the IV lines while sleeping. Even when the patient's CVC is not connected to IV lines, the lumens generally hang below the bottom of the patient's hospital gown or shirt, where they can get snagged. These risk factors are increased exponentially when the patients are children.

When a CVC slides out of place or the exterior portion of the CVC is damaged, in addition to the risks of infections incurred by the CVC event itself, the patient is likely to undergo an additional surgery to remove the existing CVC and place another into a different vein. This poses several problems. First, each time the patient undergoes a procedure, he is exposed to the inherent risks of the procedure. Second, there are risks posed by preparation for the surgery, such as patient fasting and disruption in the patients treatment. In addition to the health risks of surgery, each additional procedure significantly increases the patient's overall cost of treatment. Thus, there remains a need for an improved system of securing the CVC as placed while allowing the patient some freedom of motion. The present novel technology addresses this need.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a first perspective view of a first embodiment of the front of the present novel technology.

FIG. 2 is a second perspective view of the back of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the external face of one embodiment.

FIG. 4 is detailed view of the external face in an open configuration of the embodiment of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the internal face of an alternative embodiment

FIG. 6A is a detailed view of the external surface of the belt portion of an alternate embodiment.

FIG. 6B is a detailed view of a respective flap defining a respective compartment in the embodiment of FIG. 6A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the novel technology and presenting its currently understood best mode of operation, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the novel technology is thereby intended, with such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated devices and such further applications of the principles of the novel technology as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the novel technology relates. Some embodiments may omit some of the components of the belt system, and some embodiments will include other components as well. The illustrated embodiments in the drawings are intended to be exemplary only.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-5, the garment and/or device 2 typically comprises of a typically elastic belt portion 4 for encircling the abdomen of a patient, and a fastener portion 42, and a receiving portion 40 connected thereto such as a hook and loop, burr or touch fastener. The garment 2, when engaged by the patient operates to prevent tension on tubing that is exiting the body, and promotes support to the tubing so as to prevent the tubing from undesired or unexpected removal from the body. Typically, the device 2 engages and secures catheter or IV lines, and more typically central venous catheter lines, which exit the body from the chest.

The garment 2 may be worn on any area to which it can be securely attached. More typically, the garment 2 is worn around the abdomen of a patient. The garment 2 may be used by humans or animals. More typically, the garment 2 is worn by human cancer patients.

The garment 2 may be re-used or discarded after one use. The garment 2 may be wholly or partially recyclable. In other embodiments, the garment may be made of non-recyclable materials.

The garment 2 typically includes of a plurality of flaps 12 extending from the belt portion 4. Each respective flap 12 includes a flap fastener 44, 46 engagable to the belt portion 4 so that each flap may assume an open (unfastened) or closed (fastened) configuration. The respective flaps 12 define a plurality of compartments 14, wherein the IV lines and the like can be secured by closing one or more respective flaps 12 over them. In one embodiment, the plurality of flaps may be sewn or stitched across the exterior surface 18 of elastic belt portion 4. In other embodiments, the flaps 12 may be operationally connected to the elastic belt portion 4 in any other convenient fashion.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, each respective flap 12 may be secured in a closed configuration by a respective fastener 44, 46. The fastener 34 may be located on each flap 12 or may be lined along the elastic belt portion 4 in the form of a hoop and loop fastener, adhesive fastener or any other fastening mechanism. In other embodiments, the plurality of flaps 12 may not include a fastener and may be secured in a closed configuration by other means. The compartments 14 defined by the flaps 12 may be partially or completely enclosed, and the contents of a respective compartment 14 may be partially of completely exposed. The flaps 12 and the generally elastic belt portion 4 can be coated with or made from substances that improve the grip so as to prevent the garment 2 and/or engaged IV lines from moving or shifting undesirably. Further all portions of the device 2 may be made from materials having antimicrobial, germicidal and/or antibacterial properties. In other examples, the garment 2 may be coated with and/or impregnated with substances having antimicrobial, germicidal, and or anti-bacterial properties.

In one embodiment and as shown in FIG. 5, the generally elastic belt portion 4 has padding on the inner surface 28 to improve a user's comfort during use. This embodiment allows a user to use the garment 2 for extended periods without discomfort or irritation that could give rise to a need to move or shift the garment 2. The padding may also be used to prevent irritation to skin when the garment is worn on exposed dermis.

In one embodiment, the flaps 12 lift upward to define the compartments 14. In other embodiments, some respective flaps 12 may lift from the right or left, or even downwards.

In another embodiment, and as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B each respective flap 12 enclosing each respective compartment 14 may be removable from the exterior surface 35 of the belt portion 4. The exterior surface 35 may have oppositely adjacent fastener portions 17 such as hooks so as to engage at least one set of fastening receiver portions 19 located on each respective compartment 14.

In another embodiment, the patient wears the garment 2 around the torso by wrapping the generally elastic belt portion around the torso and then securing the fastening mechanism 40, 42 on the generally elastic belt portion 4. Catheter lines may then be arranged to extend through one or more compartments 14 located on the generally elastic belt portion 4 and defined by the flaps 12. Flaps 12 assume an open configuration when the catheter lines are arranged in the compartments 14. Once a catheter line is placed and organized in a respective compartment 14, the respective flap 12 is made to assume the closed configuration, which can typically be secured in the closed configuration by fastening mechanism 44, 46. The fastening mechanism 44, 46 can be a hook and loop, bottom and loop, magnetic or the like. Once a respective flap 12 assumes the closed configuration the external portion of the catheter receives support while remaining proximate to the patient/wearer. Access to the IV line may be made by lifting the respective flaps 12 into an open configuration.

The intravenous lines typically exits the garment from the back 5 of the device 2. In other examples, the IV lines exit the garment 2 from the front and/or sides.

In another embodiment, the exterior surface 35 of the generally elastic belt portion 4 and include a means for identifying the patient, and typically a means for quickly accessing at least some of the patient's medical information. Typically, a barcode or the like is typically displayed on the exterior surface 8 of the generally elastic belt 4 and a scanner is used to retrieve the garment patient's information. In other examples, the garment 2 includes an RFID device capable of storing and transmitting patient information.

While the novel technology has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character. It is understood that the embodiments have been shown and described in the foregoing specifications in satisfaction of the best mode and enablement requirements. It is further understood that one of ordinary skill in the art could readily make a nigh-infinite number of insubstantial changes and modifications to the above-described embodiments and that it would be impractical to attempt to describe all such embodiment variations in the present specification. Accordingly, it is understood that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the novel technology are desired to be protected.

While a particular embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, modifications may be made. It is therefore intended in the appended claims to cover such changes and modifications which follow in the true spirit and scope of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for preventing movement and damage of the external portion of a catheter, comprising: a generally elastic support band having a front face with a top edge and a oppositely disposed bottom edge; at least one enclosing flap operationally connected to the generally elastic support band and defining at least one compartment; a first set of fasteners connected to the generally elastic support band, wherein the first set of fasteners is positioned adjacent the top edge; a second set of fasteners connected to the front face of the generally elastic support band, wherein the second set of fasteners is positioned adjacent the bottom edge; wherein the first and second set of fasteners engage a fastener receiving portion located on a surface of the at least one enclosing flap at least one fastener operationally connected to the at least one enclosing flap; wherein when the at least one enclosing flap assumes an open configuration, a catheter line is insertable through the at least one compartment; and wherein when the at least one enclosing flap snugly engages the fastener, the catheter line is secured to the generally elastic support band.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein the fastener operationally connected to the enclosing flaps is a hook and loop fastener.
 3. The device of claim 1 and further comprising a means for displaying identifying information of a user disposed on a surface of the generally elastic support band.
 4. The device of claim 1 wherein the at least one enclosing flap assumes a closed configuration to at least partially enclose the catheter line.
 5. The device of claim 1 wherein the at least one enclosing flap is coated with a substance for improved grip.
 6. The device of claim 1 wherein the generally elastic belt portion is loop.
 7. The device of claim 1 wherein the device is coated at least partially with an antibacterial substance.
 8. The device of claim 1 wherein the device is generally microbially sterile.
 9. A garment for providing support to a Central Venous Catheter comprising: a support band operationally connected to a fastener portion and a receiving portion; a plurality of flaps operationally connected to the support band and defining a plurality of compartments; wherein the plurality of flaps at least partially enclose the compartments; wherein at least one intravenous line is fittingly engaged through the plurality of compartments; and wherein the plurality of flaps and at least partially cover the intravenous lines.
 10. The garment of claim 8, wherein the support band is made of at least partially elastic material.
 11. The garment of claim 8, wherein the plurality of flaps defining the plurality of compartments are movable and re-fastened along an exterior surface of the generally elastic belt portion.
 12. The garment of claim 8, wherein the garment is engaged around a patient.
 13. The garment of claim 8, wherein an exterior surface of the support band includes a means for displaying identifying information of a patient.
 14. The garment of claim 8, wherein the garment is made from germicidal materials
 15. A method for using a generally elastic catheter support band comprising: a) stretching a generally elastic support band around a patient; b) securing a fastening portion on the generally elastic support band into a receiving portion on the generally elastic support band; c) threading a catheter line through a plurality of open ended compartments operationally connected to the generally elastic support band; and d) closing a plurality of enclosing flaps adjacent to the respective plurality of open ended compartments; wherein a first portion of the catheter line extends from a wound to the elastic band and a second portion of the catheter line extends from the elastic band to a fluid source; and wherein the first portion is isolated from tension on the second portion
 16. The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of flaps includes a fastening mechanism.
 17. The method of claim 13, wherein the generally elastic support band includes a fastener portion and a receiving portion.
 18. The method of claim 13, wherein the fastener and receiving portion type defines a hook and loop. 